Date: 20 December 2023

Time: 13:30

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Present—

• Judith Paterson (Interim Co-Chair)
• Dr Mark Simpson (Interim Co-Chair)
• Dr Marilyn Howard (Member)
• Dr Jackie Gulland (Member)

Apologies: None

In attendance (SCoSS Secretariat)—

• Stephen Herbert, Secretary
• Andrew Strong, Head of Policy and Scrutiny
• Andrzej Hagger, Analysis and Participation Officer
• Christopher Galloway, Analysis and Participation Support Officer
• Lisa Kinnear, Service Support Administrator

The Interim Co-Chair, Mark Simpson, welcomed the Commissioners to the eleventh and final meeting of the Board in 2023.

Members did not have any relevant interests to declare.

The Minutes of the November Board meeting were considered and, following amendment, agreed.

In attendance—

• Kyle Murray, Procedural and International Policy Team Leader; and
• Nicola McRanor, Senior Policy Lead, Compensation Recovery.

The Board discussed the draft regulations with the Scottish Government officials attending the meeting in order to inform the Commission’s report on the draft regulations.  The Board noted that the draft regulations would not be formally referred to the Commission until early January 2024.  The Board also considered its approach to scrutiny of the draft regulations given the constrained timescale to report on the draft regulations.

Following discussion with officials, the Board agreed to provisionally hold an ad-hoc meeting of the Board on 11 January 2024 to consider a draft report on the regulations.

The Board received an update on the process of procuring external research and noted that it was intended that the research specification would be published on the public sector procurement portal during January 2024.

The Board considered the Finance update which forecast an underspend on the SCoSS budget of around £3,000 in 2023-24.

The Board considered and agreed an updated risk register.  The risk register contained two new ‘risks’ relating to the SCoSS budget in 2023-24 and the conclusion of the Audit Adviser’s contract at the end of March 2024.

The Board considered the position with regard to renewal of the contract for website maintenance and agreed to consider the position further at the next Board meeting.

The Secretariat advised that a draft, revised Framework Document had been agreed with Sponsor Unit.  The draft was now being considered by a range of Scottish Government departments including the Public Bodies Unit.  The Board noted that the draft document would also be reviewed by the Audit Adviser prior to consideration by the Board at a future Board meeting.

There was no further business considered.

Meeting closed at 15.32

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 31 January